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Delirium is not dementia

Illustrated Story A02, with a text transcript.

Read story A02: Delirium is not dementia (image and text)
Four-panel illustrated story. David asks whether his father has dementia. The nurse explains that dementia usually develops over months or years, whereas this change began over days. Dad is shown confused in hospital and well in his garden a year earlier. In the final panel David asks whether delirium can improve. The nurse, identified by the speech-bubble tail, answers: Usually, yes. Bottom line: A sudden change may be delirium and needs medical assessment.

Delirium and dementia are different. Dementia usually develops slowly. Delirium begins suddenly, over hours or days, and often changes during the day. A person living with dementia can also develop delirium.

If someone’s thinking or behaviour changes suddenly, tell staff what they were like before and when the change began. Delirium often improves, although recovery varies and depends on the person and the causes.

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Story text

  1. Panel 1.

    • David: Is this dementia? He was fine last week.
    • Nurse: Dementia comes on over months or years. This came on in days. That is delirium.

  2. Panel 2. Delirium: sudden, over hours or days. It comes and goes during the day.

  3. Panel 3. Dementia: slow, over months or years. It does not come and go in the same way.

  4. Panel 4.

    • Nurse: People with dementia can get delirium too. The sudden change is the clue.
    • David: So this can get better?
    • Nurse: Usually, yes.

Bottom band. A sudden change may be delirium and needs medical assessment.

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